122 
view, feems to obftruét the path; the guide 
goes forward, enters it, and when you 
have approached, fuddenly pufhes back 
the door, and a fight prefents itfelf which 
fills the gazer with delight and wonder. 
Oppofite the door of the building, which 
is daik, gloomy, and unornamented, is a 
Jarge opening through which is difcovered 
the water we had before quitted rufh’ng 
over fantaftic forms of rock in the wildeft 
grandeur. At foine diftance is flung over 
tt a bridge, confifting of one fine arch of 
dark-grey ftone, which greatly heightens 
the <ffect ; and its defcent to the buiiding 
from which you contemplate it, is orna- 
mented with wild luxuriant foliage, while 
fome old grotefque trees fling their broad 
arms over the riven rock, and adda {fo- 
Jemn grandeur tothe fcene. Perhaps a 
moie favourable moment could not have 
been enjoyed: the body of the fun was 
concealea behind the eminence we looked 
up to, but the richeft, deep, crimfon radi- 
ance diffu‘ed an inexpre fible glory amongtt 
the dark thades of the trees, which was 
reflefted by the moft prominent parts of 
the water; the dark-grey rock, and the 
whole fcene, afluming that rich tint which 
is {> much admired in the landfcapes of 
Claude Lorrain. We quitted this fpot with 
regret, and proceeded to Low-wcod, the 
fafthionable Ratton for Windermere ; but 
not a room was unoccupied, and we haft- 
ened to Bownefs, a more central point, and 
to us a preferable one. The ride to this 
place is highly delightful, amidft impend- 
ing woods, through which you occafion- 
ally gain fine views of the lake, and its 
attendant feenery. Rayrig, the feat of 
Mr. je Fleming, on the border of the 
lake, is {aid to refemble Ferney, the re- 
ficence of Voltaire, near that of Geneva. 
The evening was calm, and we hafted to 
contemplate the beauties of Windermere, 
onits margin, Our party thought it too 
late to venture on the water. ‘io me the 
hallowed hour of twilight, the calm unruf- 
fled furface of the lake, the deep fhadows 
of the furrounding woods, and the reflec- 
tion of a few fcattered tars, rendered it 
the mere interefting, and I determined to 
fecure a pleafure which might not again 
be afforded. 
Opportunities for fecuring important 
advantages, or exquifite <njoyments, occur 
hut feldom; when once prefented, and we 
are for potponing *‘* till a more conveni- 
ent feafon,”’ they are gone, and gone ior 
ever! Boats aye conitantly in waiting, 
and never was indulgence more grateful, 
to that fort of melancholy which foftens, 
not fubdues the Reart, He who is not 
Journal written during a Ramble to the Lakes. 
[Sept. 1, 
difpofed to be foothed and gratified by 
the prefent, has profited little by the paft, 
and deferves fill lefs of the future. This 
enjoyment ought to have infpired fome- 
what better than the following: 
O venerated feene! O hallow’d hour! 
Dear are your calm delights to forrow’s foul ; 
For here the erring world refigns its pow’r, 
And erring pafiions, here, their wild controul. 
1 thank thee, mildeft regent* of the night, 
That thy bland radiance gilds the fombre 
fcene, 
Throws on the wave its filver line of 
And tips with fofter fhades the wood’s deep 
green, 
How dear that filence, when no found is 
heard, 
Save the flow meafur’d dafhings of the oar, 
And the tir’d wing of that fequefter’d 
bird, 
Who feeks his covert diftant from the fhore ! 
If onthat ifle the human form might reft, 
Poor peifecuted heron, I would fhare 
Thy wild retreat, and foothe thy rufficd 
neft 
With all the ardour of a fufferer’s care. 
For I have borne the blaft, and felt the 
ftorm, 
And pant to lighten all the woe I fee 5 
If mortal fcorn my aidin every form, 
I fhould derive a blifs from bleffing thee. 
O paufe not on thine oar, but row through 
night, 
Nor let that oar e’er reft, that night e’er 
clofe ; 
The fhore, the day, for me have no delight 
Dear as this fabbath of ferene repoie! 
In my way to the inn, with the apology 
of begging a moment's reft, I called at a 
little cottage. The man was juft return- 
ed trom his daily labour; the woman had 
prepared a bowl of beans for fupper ; 
fpoons were arranged amongit them for 
all who were to partake; her eyes glad- 
dened with delight, whilft the placed them 
before her hufband, and her children ga~ 
the:ed round to fhare the frugal repaftt. I 
was invited to join them, and, in order 
not to interrupt the harmony of a fcene 
it was fo grateful to witnels, I readily 
took my fpoon. The good woman offer- 
ed to butter my fhare more plentifully ; 
but the heart cannot be much interefted 
where the appetite is very dainty, and this 
T would not permit. I had often heard 
and read of cottage felicity, but I never 
faw the content, health and chearfulnefs 
of rufticity exhibited fo pleafingly before. 

* Jupiter. 
No 
